The Marshall Islands will not accept a “death sentence” from the global climate summit in Dubai, Minister John Silk said during the high-level government segment of the meeting last weekend.
“Despite our best efforts, we are far, far off track” (from meeting the Paris Agreement limit of 1.5 degrees), he said. “We cannot pretend otherwise. With current policies, the planet is on track to a 2.9 (degree) future. We cannot adapt to temperature rise that high; the loss and damage will be incalculable. It will be our death sentence.”
COP28, which was supposed to close Tuesday, was extended for an additional day because there were no agreements reached on numerous major issues. A big stumbling block continues to be petrostates, including host the United Arab Emirates, which oppose a phase out of fossil fuels.
“We will not go silently to our watery graves,” Silk told COP28. “Therefore, we cannot and will not accept an outcome from this COP that does not set us on a course for a future that stays within the 1.5C temperature limit and lead to a more resilient world.”
In related COP28 news, Marshall Islands Ambassador Albon Ishoda delivered forceful words about the importance of reeling in the shipping industry during his remarks at the global climate summit in Dubai last week.
Ishoda, who in addition to being RMI ambassador to S. Korea is the Special Presidential Envoy for the Decarbonisation of Maritime Shipping, focused on the urgency of getting the shipping sector in line with the Paris Climate Agreement’s 1.5C future.
During the transport flagship event, the RMI ambassador steered discussions on putting Transport and Mobility Systems on the trajectory for a 1.5°C future and emphasized the imperative for revolutionary changes in international shipping and domestic transport systems.
Ambassador Albon presented RMI’s proposal for a universal mandatory greenhouse gas tax for international shipping, currently under consideration at the International Maritime Organization, that would address the price gap between “business as usual” and alternative technologies. The levy, designed to fund the transition to cleaner energy and combat the climate impacts of shipping’s past practices, highlights the need for global agreement on an equitable transition, said a government release issued about the ambassador’s presentation.
Ambassador Albon also stated that the world was behind a fast-ticking climate clock and advocated for a $150/ton of carbon levy that would have to be operational by 2027.
On the regional front, Ambassador Albon emphasized the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership, highlighting the need for an unprecedented transition in domestic shipping. He stated that RMI’s commitment to the Majuro Declaration, the Samoa pathway, and diplomatic engagement at the IMO underscored RMI’s dedication.
As a maritime nation, Ambassador Albon stressed the importance of matching global transitions with local actions. He highlighted continuous investment in technical, legal, and economic research networks, updated nationally determined contributions and heavy investments in training for the next generation of leaders.
“RMI continues to support the 6PAC+ and its island neighbors through the Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport and the recent launch of a low-carbon passenger/cargo ship and ongoing research on innovative technologies further showcases our commitment to leading by example,” he said.
The day before COP28 was scheduled to wrap up December 12. But numerous disagreements on key areas of climate action remained, preventing COP28 from endorsing a new plan of action.
As a result, reported the Center for Climate and Energy, Wednesday morning, the COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber extended the session for an extra day.
“The COP28 President held bilateral consultations with groups of Parties throughout December 12, but as of 11:00pm GST, no new iterations of decision text on the global stocktake, the global goal on adaptation framework, the mitigation work program or the just transition work program had been published, ensuring that negotiations will overrun and extend into December 13,” said the Center in a daily update. “Major sticking points remain, including language around the energy transition and finance in the global stocktake outcome.”